Large-scale counterterror raids in Australia. A beheading plot uncovered, and probably more plots were in the offing as well. And so the Muslim victimhood industry swings into action: “Police searching for material linked to Islamic State, al-Qaeda, says man targeted,” by Emma Partridge, Sydney Morning Herald, September 18, 2014 (thanks to Kenneth):
A man targeted during counter-terrorism raids across Sydney said police were searching for any material that could link his family to al-Qaeda or Islamic State.
Raban Alou said he and his family were ordered to get on the ground of their Wentworthville unit just after 4am on Thursday.
He said police were after his brother Kawa Alou, 21, who had recently finished a three-year jail stint for a violent assault.
The family’s home was one of more than a dozen properties raided by 800 police during a major counter-terrorism operation.
Police said they were acting on information that a group was planning to carry out a number of attacks but said they had no specific information
“My little brother was in shock. He’s never witnessed anything like that and then they grabbed my brother, he was on the floor on his stomach and ‘crack’ on the nose. He was bleeding and they dragged him,” Mr Alou said.
“They took out my brother across the road … made us get on our knees,” he said.
“They said on the warrant [that] they are looking for stuff to do with al-Qaeda, IS and … stuff like that.”
He said police targeted a number of his brother’s friends at Westmead, Guildford and Revesby during the dawn raids.
“I know them as well; they never done anything wrong.”
“They [the police] said it was something to do with terrorist activity. I was like, relax.”
Supplied image of police during the execution of search warrants across Sydney’s north-west suburbs.Mr Alou said his mother, Hamida, and brothers Hozan and Kawa were all escorted out of their Department of Housing unit on Lane Street.
At one point police had handcuffed him and his eldest brother but they were later released without charge.
“No one is charged yet; we don’t have nothing to do with anything. They are searching now but there is nothing to find,” he said.
When asked why police had targeted his brother, he said he had no idea.
“I dunno, I got a lot of anger; it’s is a war on Islam just because we grow our beards. They want to label us as a terrorist, or supporters of IS, whatever, that’s up to you.” he said.
He later said he believed his brother may have been targeted because he hung around with “hot heads”.
“He’s just trying to live his life, do his own thing. I know ASIO is on to them [other friends targeted during the raids].”
He said his brother and those targeted had all grown up together and went to nearby schools in Sydney’s western suburbs.
Mr Alou said police had seized all the family’s mobile phones, lap-tops and Play Station 3.
“They are doing forensics stuff now,” he said.
Australian Federal Police and officers attached to the public order and riot squad were still guarding the red brick unit block at 11am as they continued to collect more potential evidence.